Friday nights at the bar are all about pinball, friendly competition, and trying something a little different each week. Our Friday Night Strikes events feature a rotating lineup of pinball tournament formats designed to keep things fun, fast-paced, and exciting for players of all skill levels.
Some nights focus on endurance, others reward consistency or quick thinking, but every format offers a great mix of competition and social play. Whether you’re brand new to pinball tournaments or a seasoned league player, Friday Night Strikes is a welcoming way to jump in, learn the ropes, and flip with friends.
Below is an overview of the tournament formats we regularly run.
Upcoming Events
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March 13th @ 7:00 PM
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March 20th @ 7:00 PM
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March 27th @ 7:00 PM
2v2 Cooperative Team Pinball!
How It Works
Come out and play some cooperative pinball! You’ll be paired with another player to take on other teams in head-to-head action! The twist is that you will share score and game progress with your teammate on Stern Pinball games that have cooperative mode settings. This unique format will be a ton of fun!
Three-Strike Group Knockout Pinball Tournament
How It Works
- Players are matched into 3- or 4-player groups each round.
- 4-player groups: 3rd & 4th place each receive one strike.
- 3-player groups: 3rd place receives one strike.
- Once you have 3 strikes, you’re eliminated.
- The last player standing takes the win!
5 Round Match play w/Amazing Race Finals Pinball Tournament
How It Works
- Players compete in group match play over 5 rounds of qualifying.
- Each round, players earn points based on finishing position.
- After qualifying, the top six players advance to finals.
- Finals are run in an Amazing Race–style format, where players move quickly from game to game.
- Last player to complete the race takes the win!
Pace Matchplay Pinball Tournament
How It Works
- Players compete in group matchplay over 5 rounds of qualifying.
- Each round, players earn points based on finishing position in their group.
- Players who reach 20 or more points will continue with an ever-increasing cut line each round.
- Players are eliminated as the cut line rises.
- Last player remaining takes the win!
9 Progressive Strikes Group Knockout Pinball Tournament
How It Works
- Players are matched into 3 or 4-player groups each round.
- Strikes are awarded progressively based on finish order:
- You earn one strike for each player who beats you in your group.
- In a 4-player group:
- 1st place: 0 strikes
- 2nd place: 1 strike
- 3rd place: 2 strikes
- 4th place: 3 strikes
- In a 3-player group:
- 1st place: 0 strikes
- 2nd place: 1 strike
- 3rd place: 2 strikes
- In a 4-player group:
- Once you reach 9 strikes, you’re eliminated.
- Last player standing takes the win!
Six Fair Strikes Group Knockout Pinball Tournament
How It Works
- Players are matched into 3, or 4-player groups each round.
- Strikes are awarded based on finishing position:
- 4-player groups:
- 1st place: 0 strikes
- 2nd & 3rd place: 1 strike
- 4th place: 2 strikes
- 3-player groups:
- 1st place: 0 strikes
- 2nd place: 1 strike
- 3rd place: 2 strikes
- 2-player groups:
- 1st place: 0 strikes
- 2nd place: 2 strikes
- Once you reach 6 strikes, you’re eliminated.
- Last player standing takes the win!
6-Hole Mini-Golf Pinball Tournament
How It Works
- Players will play 6 different games, each acting as a “hole.”
- Each hole has a target score or specific objective to complete.
- Scores are tracked across all six holes.
- The top 4 pin-golfers advance to the finals.
- Finalists compete in a 3-game championship round to determine the winner!
Talladega Nights Strikes – 5 Fast Strikes Group Knockout
How It Works
Players compete in 3- or 4-player groups.
- If you don’t finish first, you receive a strike.
- Earn 5 strikes and you’re eliminated.
Play continues until only one player remains.
The last player standing wins.
One Ball Beat-The-Clock – Group Match Play
How It Works
All games are set to one ball only.
Players compete in 3- or 4-player groups, earning points each round. The tournament runs for approximately 2.5–3 hours.
When time expires, the top point earners advance to an Amazing Race–style finals.
The last player remaining wins and punches their ticket to The Kickback Invitational.
Howdy Partner! – Team Pinball Showdown
How It Works
When registering, players designate themselves as Expert, Intermediate, or Beginner.
Balanced groups are created using those designations. Teams compete across multiple games to post the highest combined scores.
Coaching and teaching are allowed, extra balls are played, and the team with the best overall performance wins.